A reduced number of matches is one of wholesale changes set to be made by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) as the governing body looks to overhaul the country's lone first-class competition; the National Cricket League (NCL).

The new format is expected to be finalised today when the domestic cricket calendar for the 2009-10 season will be placed before BCB's board of directors for approval.

With a target to make the meet more competitive within a reasonable expenditure, the tournament committee has proposed a new format for the longer-version meet, which will kick off from the last week of December this year.

And the most significant changes is that the NCL has shifted from league format to a cup format with semifinals and final, the latter of which would be a five-day affair. The number of matches will reduce to 22 from 33.

There would be no home and away basis competition as only three matches is likely to be held in Dhaka while the rest of the matches will be take place out side Dhaka.

"We are also planning to bring changes in the team selection policy as there is no point to impose the teams (by national selectors) on the divisions from BCB rather they have to have their own choice for better competition," said BCB's director and cricket operations committee chairman Enayet Hossain Siraj yesterday.

The one-day competition of the NCL is scheduled to start from February 22 next year and all 22 matches will be held in Dhaka while this season the National Cricket League T20 competition is included which will be held in Dhaka during March 30 to April 13 next year.

The cricket season will start with the First Division League (October 9 to November 30). The First Division T20 League is slated for December 1 to December 15.

The most coveted domestic competition, the Premier Division Cricket League will kick off with the T20 version from October 10 to October 18 while the one-day competition is scheduled for October 23 to December 15.

According to the new calendar, the Inter District Cricket Championship one-day matches will be held in nine venues outside Dhaka from February 2 to March 6 while the Club Cup Championship with the district club cricket league champions will be held in 12 venues outside Dhaka from April 16 to May 15, 2010.

A slot has also been allotted for the second version of the Port City T20 League from March 27 to April 7. The venue is yet to be confirmed but the port city organisers are planning to arrange it in Dubai.

There are also Independence Day and Victory Day matches along with the Dhaka 2nd Division Cricket League (December 18 to January 31), Dhaka 3rd Division Cricket League (December 18 to January 31), Dhaka 3rd Division Qualifying (March 6 to June 10).

BCB's women's wing committee will arrange Women's National Championship (district tournament) from October 9, Women's National League (divisional) from January 10, Women's Club Cup tournament (Dhaka metro clubs) from March 10 and Girls School Cricket Tournament (Dhaka Metro) from December.

On the other hand, under BCB's game development committee the competitions are Young Tigers Dhaka Metro Zonal U-14 Competition-Phase-2 (October-November), Young Tigers Divisional Competition-Phase-2 (December-January), Young Tigers U-14 National Competition-Phase-3 (January-February), Standard Chartered Young Tiger School Cricket Under-16 programme (October-March), Young Tigers U-18 Divisional Cricket Competition- Phase-2 (December-January) and Young Tigers U-18 National Competition-Phase -3 (March).

Originally Posted by WarWolf
As the full plan is not revealed it's too early to comment on it generally. But the change in the selection process is good as the regional teams will have their own authority to choose the players.

There is chance for corruption in divisional team selection as the divisional selectors will choose the players from whom they take money. they may choose their relatives, too. There must be some scrutiny on divisional team selection.

Thanks Eshen for sharing the news. cutting the number of NCL 4-dayer to 22. I am not sure it will be good or bad.

Quote:

And the most significant changes is that the NCL has shifted from league format to a cup format with semifinals and final, the latter of which would be a five-day affair. The number of matches will reduce to 22 from 33.

Inclusion of NCL T20 will bring more competition in divisional teams. And will be played at the right time just before the WCT20. BCB should look to franchise this league to get more revenue. There will be interest people will go and watch a T20 game if they market it properly they can bring a lot of money from this version of domestic games. e.g. PCL earlier this year was a success even it was planned in a hurry.

"With a target to make the meet more competitive within a reasonable expenditure, the tournament committee has proposed a new format for the longer-version meet, which will kick off from the last week of December this year.

And the most significant changes is that the NCL has shifted from league format to a cup format with semifinals and final, the latter of which would be a five-day affair. The number of matches will reduce to 22 from 33."

If you're interested in developing Test players, this is a bad move. A real bad move. It is four-day cricket that makes quality cricketers.

If this shortened season happened this last year, Mahamadullah doesnt hit the four tons in a row that get him into the side, and Bangladesh don't have a right-arm offspinner in the team.

Moving the games to the cheap venues, fine - as long as the cheap venues can create a First Class pitch (centrally contracted ground staff are a plan, guys).

How much money does an FC game in Bangladesh lose, anyway (yeah, they lose money, but it builds quality cricketers) ?

Finally, hit and giggle makes bad cricketers ! Yes, you need to do it for cash flow, but for crying out loud, Bangladesh needs fast bowlers who can take wickets and batsmen that can build innings. With a domestic structure based around hit and giggle, you get neither.

^^^ They dont make any money from NCL 4-dayer. Thats why they should target the T20 tournament to get all the revenue and then invest in NCL 4-dayer.
Ian is right FC 4-dayer is where quality cricketers is made not in one dayers or in T-20.

October 10 - October 18: DPL T20
October 23 - December 15: DPL One-Day
Last week of December to mid February: NCL FC
February 22: Start of NCL One-Day
March 30 - April 13: NCL T20
March 27 - April 7: PCL T20

22 from 33...I don't know the reason but simple thought is ...playing less cricket won't help us...we need hard working cricketers not char shoi mara superstars...we have enough of them...any way to arrange more matches...if national players have obligations they can participate in few...but what about other players they need for FC experience....and don't tell me that they will still not going for better pitch...

Originally Posted by MohammedC
Then get the Dhaka club to play 4-dayers. That way you can have one long domestic season. not bit here and bit there.

That would make sense, would not it? To get rid off NCL and have an FC league involving Dhaka clubs. That way we won't have so many leagues cramping the schedule or be short of time for a full length FC league.

Also, players would take the FC league seriously knowing their prices would go up or down in the market based on their performances. Now, NCL is only a means for fringe players to claim a spot in the national team. Star players don't care as NCL performances don't affect their positions in the national team.

So DPL is not far away. It looks like it will finsh before the end of this year. Why cant CCDM organise a 4 day tournament like they promised last year (which never took place). I know they will miss out on players in International duties. They must think about the future prospects and give them maximum taste of 4 day grind before they come to limelight.

Most of the Dhaka league teams have no practice facilities. I know many players (who are not national players) practice in their home town and come and play in Dhaka league. These days most of the player are coming via BCB age-group tournaments and Dhaka clubs just pay them for the league. Dhaka league teams should not get the FC status until they have proper cricket facilities of their own.

It is better for our cricket to improve the facilities of the Divisional cricket teams and individual division should be responsible for team selection. I know they are not prepared yet but BCB should give more emphasis on this area.

According to new calendar the most coveted domestic competition, the Premier Division Cricket League will kick off with the T20 version from October 10 while the one-day competition is scheduled for October 23 to December 15.

The three-day players' transfer will start from September 29.

Like previous season one club will be able to enrol maximum three players from the pool while the clubs will be eligible to register three foreign players but can field only one in a match.

i guess it would be good if some national team players got captaincy for their club team.......suppose mushy the captain of surjoturon, sakib the captain of biman, raqibul the captain of mohamedan, tamim the captain of abahoni, mash the captain of city club..........and also the division league.............ash the captain of dhaka, tamim the captain of ctg, sakib/mash captain of khulna.........etc

but, we always see the some players who even don't get chance to national team got the captaincy........one example "i guess sanowar hossain/tushar imran/nafis iqbal/anisur rahman"